What small thing did you do today to reduce your environmental impact? (2025)

[Frugal Lizard]

Clothesline is open for the season!

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

I realized that my heat pump water heater will usually do just fine in heat pump only mode. I can always turn on hybrid if we're using a lot of water and I know I want a hot bath, but our usual usage doesn't require it.

[crocheted_stache]

Today I biked 26 miles, walked 2 miles, took trains 21 miles. Zero car miles.

[crocheted_stache]

Chose a sunny day for the week's laundry. Did a little bit of darning on one of DH's old shirts. Washed a pretty full load of my reusable cleaning cloths. Biked a short errand.

[Poundwise]

I've started to walk more to do errands. I am now successfully walking to:
- buy fruit
- go to the bank
- doctor/dentist

[crocheted_stache]

Yesterday, while I washed my reusable cup and utensils in the office break room sink, a coworker came in and got something out of the fridge. When I looked up a minute later, the coworker was nowhere to be seen and the fridge was wide open. Maybe his fridge at home swings closed by itself, but this fridge doesn't. Anyway, I closed the fridge.

I have no explanation for the people who run enormous volumes of water and use quantities of soap that would take me months to consume—I'm talking tablespoons, plural—just to wash one coffee cup or lunch container. There's not much I can do about them, either.

[tygertygertyger]

I’ve been watching a patch of garlic mustard grow in the side patch of my neighbor’s yard. It’s a small area where I know my neighbors don’t walk, and it’s next to part of our driveway where I keep pots of vegetables.

I really wanted to go pluck the invasives, but my partner reminded me that I shouldn’t mess with their private yard. (Note: i sure as hell uproot them when walking along woods trails and in other neglected areas…)

Finally saw my neighbor out and casually mentioned that he had some invasives growing there … later that day I saw he had already plucked them. I saw a few he’d missed (in a bush) so I did sneak over and grab them. No more invasives (there)!

[crocheted_stache]

I’ve been watching a patch of garlic mustard grow in the side patch of my neighbor’s yard. It’s a small area where I know my neighbors don’t walk, and it’s next to part of our driveway where I keep pots of vegetables.

I really wanted to go pluck the invasives, but my partner reminded me that I shouldn’t mess with their private yard. (Note: i sure as hell uproot them when walking along woods trails and in other neglected areas…)

Finally saw my neighbor out and casually mentioned that he had some invasives growing there … later that day I saw he had already plucked them. I saw a few he’d missed (in a bush) so I did sneak over and grab them. No more invasives (there)!

I like this one!

I haven't gotten that good at identifying it yet, but at least a couple of local bicyclists eradicate goathead weeds with a vengeance. For anyone who's fortunate enough not to have encountered them, they are "in the caltrop family" and they make these awful spiky thorn seeds that puncture all but the most heavily-armored bicycle tires. If I don't get a flat from one in a given season, I'm sure to find someone else who has. I'm not sure exactly which variety is where, but it's some version of this stuff. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribulus_terrestris

For my part, I report clumps of the invasive giant reed, Arundo donax. Most of it is in waterways where I can't do much about it, but the water district is actively trying to eradicate it, and they will put known clumps on their hit list.

I'm also guilty of trying to get all the (primarily bird-aficionado) people on iNaturalist to pay more attention to our local weeds in general. And insects.

[crocheted_stache]

I'm currently running a full load of laundry, during the day when the most wind and solar electricity is likely to be generated and before the late afternoon "prime time" when everybody who has AC turns in on and also cooks dinner and watches TV. By that time, I'll be air drying the laundry.

[NorCal]

I want to pass along a reminder as we get into gardening season that the climate and environmental impacts of various plant treatments varies widely.

Compost is good as a general rule, as it can actually sequester carbon and is sometimes sourced from organic materials that would have degraded into landfill gas.

Synthetic fertilizers have a very high carbon impact as they are derived from natural gas, and they create excess nitrogen.  We obviously rely on fertilizers in many cases, but maybe ornamental lawns aren't the highest priority for high-carbon intensity fertilizers?

Peat moss is bad for the environment.  It's a natural carbon sink that is being destroyed.

[SunnyDays]

I’ve been watching a patch of garlic mustard grow in the side patch of my neighbor’s yard. It’s a small area where I know my neighbors don’t walk, and it’s next to part of our driveway where I keep pots of vegetables.

I really wanted to go pluck the invasives, but my partner reminded me that I shouldn’t mess with their private yard. (Note: i sure as hell uproot them when walking along woods trails and in other neglected areas…)

Finally saw my neighbor out and casually mentioned that he had some invasives growing there … later that day I saw he had already plucked them. I saw a few he’d missed (in a bush) so I did sneak over and grab them. No more invasives (there)!

I like this one!

I haven't gotten that good at identifying it yet, but at least a couple of local bicyclists eradicate goathead weeds with a vengeance. For anyone who's fortunate enough not to have encountered them, they are "in the caltrop family" and they make these awful spiky thorn seeds that puncture all but the most heavily-armored bicycle tires. If I don't get a flat from one in a given season, I'm sure to find someone else who has. I'm not sure exactly which variety is where, but it's some version of this stuff. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribulus_terrestris

For my part, I report clumps of the invasive giant reed, Arundo donax. Most of it is in waterways where I can't do much about it, but the water district is actively trying to eradicate it, and they will put known clumps on their hit list.

I'm also guilty of trying to get all the (primarily bird-aficionado) people on iNaturalist to pay more attention to our local weeds in general. And insects.

I have reported wild parsnip growing along a public path in my town, but all they did was cut it down last year.  Of course, now it’s sprouting again.  Well, I tried.

I also reported kudzu growing in a ditch right by my RV resort a few years ago and at least that was dealt with properly.

[Bobo629]

Did you guys see the documentary about the recycling industry on Netflix? If it can be believed, somewhere around 98% of all things separated out to be recycled are either buried or burned, not recycled. Yes, they have the "experts" with the degrees, industry people, etc, saying this.

Of course, it's par for the course. Everything is a lie. In this case, either the doc is a lie OR the industrial recycling complex is a lie. I've put a lot of effort over the years in separating out my trash, rinsing, categorizing, etc. It's deflating to think it's all been a waste. I guess better it's burned than going into the oceans, but buried under ground? Gah!

[crocheted_stache]

While shopping in the refrigerator section, I had a "one door closes, another door opens" moment. I'm not sure why a door a couple sections over popped open, but I closed it on my way by.

I also managed to decline all the forks and extra condiment packets that come with my occasional takeout order from a particular place.

[crocheted_stache]

Did you guys see the documentary about the recycling industry on Netflix? If it can be believed, somewhere around 98% of all things separated out to be recycled are either buried or burned, not recycled. Yes, they have the "experts" with the degrees, industry people, etc, saying this.

Of course, it's par for the course. Everything is a lie. In this case, either the doc is a lie OR the industrial recycling complex is a lie. I've put a lot of effort over the years in separating out my trash, rinsing, categorizing, etc. It's deflating to think it's all been a waste. I guess better it's burned than going into the oceans, but buried under ground? Gah!

This may depend somewhat on where you are, and it certainly depends on what the material is. Glass and metal are fairly easy to recycle, because you can actually melt them down and make new glass and metal things. Paper can be pureed and reconstituted as paper a limited number of times. Plastics are a mish-mash of materials to begin with, and they're not all possible to melt down and make new plastics. Even when you can melt down, impurities and mixed pigments in the input material mean inconsistent appearances in the recycled material.

The better choice, if you can, is, to buy less stuff and to favor things with less packaging if you can. That, and take your canvas bags with you to the supermarket: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVh15aUt8-c

"Reduce, reuse, recycle" should have a couple more steps, chiefly "refuse." If you possibly can, turn down the plastic forks that come with your takeout. Do not take giveaways and freebies (pens and stress balls at a trade show, etc.) unless you really will use them. Don't buy stuff you don't need. Many of these steps will also save you money, and they slightly tilt the demand away from single-use disposables.

[NorCal]

Did you guys see the documentary about the recycling industry on Netflix? If it can be believed, somewhere around 98% of all things separated out to be recycled are either buried or burned, not recycled. Yes, they have the "experts" with the degrees, industry people, etc, saying this.

Of course, it's par for the course. Everything is a lie. In this case, either the doc is a lie OR the industrial recycling complex is a lie. I've put a lot of effort over the years in separating out my trash, rinsing, categorizing, etc. It's deflating to think it's all been a waste. I guess better it's burned than going into the oceans, but buried under ground? Gah!

This may depend somewhat on where you are, and it certainly depends on what the material is. Glass and metal are fairly easy to recycle, because you can actually melt them down and make new glass and metal things. Paper can be pureed and reconstituted as paper a limited number of times. Plastics are a mish-mash of materials to begin with, and they're not all possible to melt down and make new plastics. Even when you can melt down, impurities and mixed pigments in the input material mean inconsistent appearances in the recycled material.

The better choice, if you can, is, to buy less stuff and to favor things with less packaging if you can. That, and take your canvas bags with you to the supermarket: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVh15aUt8-c

"Reduce, reuse, recycle" should have a couple more steps, chiefly "refuse." If you possibly can, turn down the plastic forks that come with your takeout. Do not take giveaways and freebies (pens and stress balls at a trade show, etc.) unless you really will use them. Don't buy stuff you don't need. Many of these steps will also save you money, and they slightly tilt the demand away from single-use disposables.

Exactly. 

Metal and glass are high on the list of really should recycle.  Paper/cardboard is next after that.

It's probably not worth a lot of effort to wash and clean plastics to recycle.

It's a small thing, but I get milk delivered from a local dairy.  The milk comes in glass jugs, and they take back the jugs to wash and re-use each week. 

[Kmp2]

This week:

Biked for transport: 64km edit: (DD also biked to school all week, +40km total) Total (104km for this household!)
Had an outdoor birthday, used one trashbag for all the waste... then I sorted it into recyclables/compostables... there was actually very little garbage (the bag itself, and those damn juice box plastic wrappers).
We reuse gift bags until they break... so we collected a few more of those.
Same low meat diet as always, only 2 meat days out of 7.

Gotta go start a load of laundry and soak some beans.

[crocheted_stache]

Does talking someone else out of an impulse purchase count? I visited a coffee shop yesterday with some friends. I don't drink coffee, so I split a pastry with my husband. One of the friends spotted a branded, insulated tumbler on the shelf, picked it up, and said, "ooh, this is neat."

I urged her to check any thrift shop or free group. That kind of thing is a preferred promotional swag item at the moment, and if she doesn't mind either ignoring a random company logo or covering over it with stickers, she could get something equivalent for a lot less than the $30 or whatever they were asking. (Heck, I could give her one of our extras.)

I should have asked (and I still should) if she has a job lined up, or the means to take a break or what. I've heard she's leaving pretty soon. Her current job in the nonprofit sector was more for job satisfaction and less for great pay. Unfortunately, current-place management seems to have lost sight of the job satisfaction part and is driving even previously devoted staff to leave, and both the bad management and the fallout from it is bugging a lot of longtime volunteers. Fortunately, I've seen many alumni go on to other good jobs, so I hope that something works out for her.

At any rate, she didn't buy the thing, so maybe she'll at least have that $30 in her pocket a while longer.

[Poundwise]

I spent some time cleaning and repairing old outdoor toys so that they will be attractive enough to give away.  Most people would have just thrown them out.

[Frugal Lizard]

I am getting rid of the last remaining bit of lawn this summer. I have a bunch of old architectural drawing I am going to put down on the turf and cover them with cedar mulch.

I have been pulling up periwinkle after it rains to reduce its spread down into the natural area behind our house. The whole frontage is covered with it as well. That is a problem for later. Trying to stay on top of the buckthorn, siberian elm, barberry out front.

[crocheted_stache]

Retrieved a large sheet of flyaway bubble wrap before it ended up somewhere harder to retrieve.

Used up some lunch leftovers while they were still okay to eat.

[Loretta]

Postponing grocery shopping until after I return from a trip.  Eating up random odds and ends.  Then planning to charge my car at the cheaper option before I hit the road.  I also removed some things from the car. 

[crocheted_stache]

Bike plus transit for all today's transportation, which was most of 40 miles between DH and myself.

My front bike tire has a worsening gouge in it, which I've already ridden on a couple extra months. There is a new little leak, and it's time to install the replacement tire, but I'll try to patch the tube. I've ridden thousands of miles on tubes with basic rubber cement patches.

[GuitarStv]

If you patch it properly, a patched tube is stronger than a new tube.

[nessness]

I had a lot of strawberries that were starting to get soft so I made strawberry sorbet. Fed the tops to the rabbits and guinea pig.

[diapasoun]

Closed out the shopping tabs I was looking at.

[crocheted_stache]

Brought home my reusable metal utensil kit from work, so I can take it along to a couple different potluck picnics this weekend. I have the rest of the kit at home, with durable-but-not-breakable plates and cups, fabric napkins, and a travel-sized bottle of dish soap. Everybody has seen me bring it before, and everybody still seems to be newly astonished when I show up to each new event with it.

[Poundwise]

Learned how to fix dried up gluesticks. It's surprisingly easy... fill tube with water, cap it, turn upside down and leave overnight.
Now we can use a dozen resuscitated gluesticks at the craft table tomorrow!

[crocheted_stache]

Learned how to fix dried up gluesticks. It's surprisingly easy... fill tube with water, cap it, turn upside down and leave overnight.
Now we can use a dozen resuscitated gluesticks at the craft table tomorrow!

Yep, I've done that. It's not quite the immortal gluestick hack, but it's pretty good.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

I couldn't find any well-used ziploc bags* this morning so instead I put my leftover pizza in an old cereal bag.

*I use these to freeze bread and reuse them several times. If I need a bag for something that will end its lifespan, I try to choose one that already has several crossed off dates on it.

[Poundwise]

Learned how to fix dried up gluesticks. It's surprisingly easy... fill tube with water, cap it, turn upside down and leave overnight.
Now we can use a dozen resuscitated gluesticks at the craft table tomorrow!

Yep, I've done that. It's not quite the immortal gluestick hack, but it's pretty good.

What is the immortal gluestick hack?

[crocheted_stache]

Learned how to fix dried up gluesticks. It's surprisingly easy... fill tube with water, cap it, turn upside down and leave overnight.
Now we can use a dozen resuscitated gluesticks at the craft table tomorrow!

Yep, I've done that. It's not quite the immortal gluestick hack, but it's pretty good.

What is the immortal gluestick hack?

I don't have one. The gluestick that I re-moistened for years eventually either didn't have enough glue left to bother or wouldn't revive. I don't remember which.

[Poundwise]

Oh, I thought maybe you had a recipe for refilling glue sticks. There are several out there but I haven't tried them yet and not willing to take the time to try one that doesn't work well.

[GuitarStv]

What are you people using gluesticks for?  I don't think I've touched one since kindergarten.

[crocheted_stache]

What are you people using gluesticks for?  I don't think I've touched one since kindergarten.

I do the occasional craft, minor paper repair, or label attachment. Glue sticks are tidier than liquid glue. I use my gluestick infrequently enough that it's helpful to know how to revive it.

I'm guessing if @Poundwise has a "craft table," it's for the kids at some gathering or event.

[Frugal Lizard]

What are you people using gluesticks for?  I don't think I've touched one since kindergarten.

I do the occasional craft, minor paper repair, or label attachment. Glue sticks are tidier than liquid glue. I use my gluestick infrequently enough that it's helpful to know how to revive it.

I'm guessing if @Poundwise has a "craft table," it's for the kids at some gathering or event.

Or those cheap dollar store envelopes without any actual glue. Yes - I mail things, or seal up seeds I have saved to share. And make cards.

[Just Joe]

Still wearing that EV out.

Summary: parent had major health problems last year. Drove 20K miles last year taking care of parent, helping youngest off to university, and a little fun along the way.

Parent has dementia, sudden decline last year, not going to get any better but is in nursing care now. This year, DW is having serious health issues unexpectedly with brain cancer. 6K miles in the past six weeks going to the big metro for treatments. So happy we've been able to do just about all of it in an EV. 

When I hear anti-EV FUD I just laugh at them. We've tested the technology well. They are viable for most people who can charge at home. Buy used if new is too pricey. There are plenty of used examples available.

Hoping I can get back out there an ebike a little for fun this year.

[crocheted_stache]

Brought home my reusable metal utensil kit from work, so I can take it along to a couple different potluck picnics this weekend. I have the rest of the kit at home, with durable-but-not-breakable plates and cups, fabric napkins, and a travel-sized bottle of dish soap. Everybody has seen me bring it before, and everybody still seems to be newly astonished when I show up to each new event with it.

Brought my utensil kit back to work.

[Frugal Lizard]

I am going by train to a conference instead of driving. A colleague who normally flies is traveling with me on the train to.

[NorCal]

I was going to a rock climbing class with a friend.  We chose to carpool, and took the EV instead of his ~25mpg car.

[Beardog]

I reused the filter on an Aeropress coffee press.  This filter has probably had about 8 uses so far and is going strong.

[crocheted_stache]

Yesterday ended up being a car trip, into some industrial neighborhoods that really aren't great for biking, so we planned it ahead and strung together several stops. At the hardware store, we picked up a toilet flapper that should stop a water leak we discovered (they seem to crud up and start leaking every few years in our water), and a couple of small parts that will help keep other larger stuff in service.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

Gave my kid brown packing paper and a disassembled cardboard box to paint on instead of new paper.

[Poundwise]

I ordered a water barrel for my gutter downspout. Truth be told, water conservation is not a thing here in NYS, but this will make it easier for me to keep my vegetable garden hydrated.

[Fru-Gal]

I am going by train to a conference instead of driving. A colleague who normally flies is traveling with me on the train to.

Nice!

Pro tip, do a zoom meeting with colleagues while on the train. I did that when I had my job and everyone was like “woah, where are you, are you in Europe, what a nice train…” I was like nope, it’s Amtrak.

(Sadly I tried to get travel reimbursement to add train travel/booking to our system along with cars and planes but they said they didn’t want to offer train travel because “it takes too long”. This was a company with a ton of greenwashed environmental claims and carbon offsets…)

[BECABECA]

Revived a travel waterpik that had stopped taking a charge by cleaning the charging port with some alcohol-based hand sanitizer and the little cleaning brush that travels with my hair clippers. I’m currently backpacking abroad and getting replacement items is quite onerous, so figuring out how to repair something with what I’ve already got on hand is key.

[crocheted_stache]

Replaced a leaky toilet flapper at home. Also reported running toilets at work, in the women's restrooms, where I presume our male facilities crew seldom visits.